Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Drew345]

I usually say a 감기에 조심하세요 (be careful of the cold) because it is actually a perfectly polite greeting in Korean, but usually it has the meaning like "wear a scarf". It is great because it is perfectly polite to say, but if you say it after someone coughs on you, it is pretty clear that you want them to stop coughing on you (rather than wanting them to wear a scarf.) The give a bit of a quizzical look, then get the message without being able to get upset, since it is a polite greeting.

[Weigookin74]

Something in the culture (Asian culture) makes them oblivious to germs. It's why they use to throw garbage everywhere and you often had bad diarrea after eating some local food. It's changing in Korea, but China and other countries still do this far more. I don't know why, but folks here seem less obsessed with sanitation like us Westerners. It's why there's still a high rate of tuberculosos and colds here. (Well, the colds also come from not covering their chest during cold weather - open jackets or not wearing one in winter.)

Anyways, I frequently wash my hands, exercise, try to avoid coughing folks, and to educate the students by asking them to cover their mouth when they cough to prevent the spread of germs.

[Steelrails]

Teaching people to cover their mouths when they cough is pointless if you don't teach them to wash their hands immediately after. Not that covering your mouth really does much anyway, I mean your hand isn't exactly an airtight, sterile mask. At best its like getting a bottle of water with your Big Mac. Its better, but not dramatically so. Really, its the hand washing that matters.

http://healthyliving.msn.com/diseases/cold-and-flu/does-covering-your-mouth-when-coughing-keep-germs-from-spreading?ocid=fbmsn

[nicwr2002]

Coughing into your hand is just as bad as not covering your mouth. You should cough into the crook of your arm instead.

[byrddogs]

[spicy]

[PatrickGHBusan]

[Steelrails]

[Chaparrastique]

[duhweecher]

Considering the fact that most viruses and diseases are not airborne, I'd prefer they not use their hands. It actually makes sense, that is, as long as they're not coughing in my face to the point that their saliva makes contact.

Best bet is to wear a mask if they're sick.

I wonder if Koreans go to places like America and complain "why don't these people wear masks instead of coughing illness all over themselves?" Just a thought...

...never seen them masks in the US except on seriously ill people who'd benefit from not catching other people's sicknesses rather than protecting folk from their own.

[Died By Bear]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r77lEmGaCXI&feature=player_embedded

[mayorhaggar]

Koreans wear masks "because winter" but then don't wash their hands after taking a dump.

Doesn't help that bathrooms frequently have no soap or warm water, let alone faucets.

[andrewchon]

Not washing hands thing: curiously Korea's never had a typhoid problem. Must be because of all that living in the garbage &tc.

[Smithington]

Of course coughing into your hand is stupid. As others said, cough into the crease of your arm. Also, do not touch the hand rails on the bus or subway. Use your glove, cap, or a piece of paper to cover your hand. Also, it's a very good idea to keep a bottle of detol on your desk. First thing I do after leaving a classroom (and using another teacher's computer) is sanitize my hands. Also be careful about letting your students use your computer. Their hands can be covered with all sorts of germs in winter time.

Also, putting up pictures of the Count blocking his cough is a great idea.

[Chaparrastique]